 These stitches have a beautiful braided look to them that’s just stunning. I’ve got a couple of patterns that use these stitches due for release in the coming months so I thought I’d do a quick tutorial showing how they’re knitted. The one over one stitch is used in my Ae Fond Kiss shawl. It’s worked with a row of elongated stitches before and after to really accentuate it. My 1, 2, 3 Cowl uses 1 over 1, 2 over 2 and 3 over 3 stitches in sequence. All of these stitches need a set up row. We need a little extra wiggle room in order to be able to lift the stitches up and over each other, and for this we need to work extra yarn overs in the set up row, and then drop them on the next row. Depending on the pattern, this might be a wrong-side or a right-side row. Set up Row on the Right Side: work k1, *yo2, k1* to the end of row. Yo2 just means bring the yarn round the needle twice, instead of once in a normal yarnover. Set up Row on the Wrong Side: work p1, *yo2, p1* to end of row. Just the same as for the right side, but just working purl instead of knit.  Now it’s time to work the actual 1 over 1, 2 over 2, or 3 over 3 stitches. First, whether you’re on the rights side or wrong side, you drop yarnovers for 2, 4 or 6 stitches. For 1 over 1, you (slip 1, drop two yarnovers) twice. For 2 over 2, you (slip 1, drop two yarnovers) four times, and for 3 over 3, it’s six times. You then slip these 2, 4 or 6 stitches back to the left needle. You should have 2, 4 or 6 really elongated stitches. We’ll give instructions for the next step according to which stitch you’re working. You knit if you’re on the right side and purl if you’re on the wrong side. One over one: knit/purl into the second stitch on the needle, lift it up and over the first stitch, and then drop it off the left needle. Then knit/purl the first stitch. Two over two: from right to left, imagine the stitches are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4. You’re going to work stitches 3 and 4 first, then 1 and 2. So you knit/purl into stitch 3 on the needle, lift it up and over the first two stitches, and then drop it off the left needle. Then do the same for stitch 4. Then knit/purl stitch 1, then stitch 2 as normal. Three over three: it’s the same idea, just with six stitches. From right to left, imagine the stitches are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. You’re going to work stitches 4, 5 and 6 first, then ,1 2 and 3. So you knit/purl into stitch 4 on the needle, lift it up and over the first three stitches, and then drop it off the left needle. Then do the same for stitch 5, then stitch 6. Then knit/purl stitch 1, 2, then 3 as normal. Here's the video showing all three stitches where the 1 over 1’s etc are purled. This is the video you need if you’re knitting the Ae Fond Kiss Shawl – and you can ignore the instructions for 2 over 2 and 3 over 3. Here’s the video showing all three stitches where the 1 over 1’s etc are knitted. This is the video you need if you’re knitting the 1, 2, 3 Cowl.
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 Nupps are lovely little clusters of stitch used traditionally in Estonian Lace knitting, and Heart Nupps take this idea one step further. We knit lots of stitches into three stitches, making a “clump” of stitches, and then on the next row we purl them together in two separate groups with a single purl stitch in between, making a heart shape. Here’s our step by step guide, together with some hints for making this tricky stitch a little easier! Step 1: before you even start knitting, think about what yarn you’re going to use. A smooth, fine, light coloured yarn will be the easiest, although a darker colour is still manageable. In this version, fifteen stitches are knitted from three, and the thicker your yarn, the trickier this is to achieve. If you’re knitting in a 4ply yarn, you could work thirteen stitches from three and then on the wrong side work p6tog, p1, p6tog. If you’re using an even thicker yarn you might need to work even fewer stitches, but the fewer stitches you work, the less “heart like” it’ll look. Step 2: gather some materials to help make things easier. For me, this was stitch markers and a thin, extra pointy, sock knitting dpn. Placing a thin stitch marker 7 stitches into the 15 makes it easier to work that p7tog on the WS. And those p7togs are fiddly! Using a thinner dpn and then slipping that stitch onto your needle makes things a little easier.  Heart Nupps in the lace yoke of my Loveheart Crop Step 3: the initial right-side row. To make the heart nupp, we knit 3 stitches together (k3tog), but don’t drop it off the left needle. We then work (yo, k3tog) into that same three stitches seven more times. Each yo and each k3tog makes a new stitch, so altogether that gives us fifteen stitches from three. I made sure to pull the initial k3tog through really loosely, and then pull though every subsequent (yo, k3tog) through as far as I could. If you’re using extra pointy needles, make sure you push the stitches up to the wider part of the needle, rather than just working the stitches at the very tips. I would also recommend placing a very thin stitch marker after 7 stitches (i.e. after working k3tog, once, then (yo, k3tog) three times). I used super basic stitch markers that are just a little metal ring, rather than the chunky plastic clip on ones. Step 4: the wrong side row. This is where things get fiddly! You need to take that 15 stitches you just made and work p7tog, p1, p7tog to get it back down to three stitches. If you placed a marker after 7 stitches in the previous round, when you’re working back on the WS, there’ll be eight stitches, then the marker, then seven more stitches. So make sure you leave one stitch before the marker on the needle to work that p1. You might find it easier using a thinner dpn if you have one lying around! Here's a video which shows me knitting this stitch. Apologies because I have terribly shaky hands, I show how to work three heart nupps on the right side, but only one on the wrong side – I thought it would be best to quit while I was ahead! If you’re interested in patterns using heart nupps, my Loveheart Crop is available at the moment and my Ae Fond Kiss Shawl pattern is being released in early April.   My Tiny Hoop 1 pattern is live! A beautiful piece of textile artwork that knits up in around an hour. It combines short rows, lace stitches and open space to make a gorgeous piece of hoop art. Using less than 30m of laceweight yarn, this is perfect for using up odds and ends from a larger lace project. I’ve always thought of lace knitting as an art form. A light and delicate shawl with complex stitch pattern, knitted with skill over many hours, certainly seems to meet the definition of artwork- it’s juts wearable too. I’m taking this a little bit further with my Tiny Hoop series and delving into the world of fibre arts. I’ve used Meadow Yarn’s Bray Lace for this piece, in colourway “A Whisper Woven Through It”, it’s a handdyed silk mohair blend that I also used for my Suilven Cowl. The shine of the silk and halo of mohair is the perfect yarn for showing off the delicate lace stitches. Any laceweight yarn would work well though! I’m all for a bit of anti-consumerism and this is a great pattern for using up what you’ve already got in your stash.  Here's all the pattern details for this knitted masterpiece: Suggested Yarn: Meadow Yarn Bray Lace (72% Mohair, 28% Silk ) 420 m/460 yds per 50 g skein: Colourway: A Whisper Woven Through It Meterage: 25 m Yardage: 27 yds Dimensions To fit 10 cm/4” embroidery hoop. Needles: 3.25 mm/US 3 straight needles or as required to achieve gauge. We recommend sharp lace needles if using laceweight mohair. Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows = 10 cm/4” with 3.25 mm/US 3 needle in stocking stitch after blocking Extras: Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends, pins and blocking board for finishing, 10 cm/4” embroidery hoop. Skills Needed: knit, purl, yo, yo2, dropping yos, knitted and purled increases and decreases (k1fb, k2tog, ssk, p2tog, ssp), 3-3 gathered stitches (instructions given) cast on and bind off, working flat, and blocking. I hope this inspires you to see knitting in a different way! You can find the pattern on Etsy, Ravelry and here on my website. It’s available at a 50% discount with coupon code KNITART until midnight (GMT) on 24th March. Happy Knitting!   Goldenacre Cardigan is here! It's a top down lace cardi with a saddle shoulder construction and a cosy attached shawl collar. Knitted in cosy worsted weight yarn, this is the perfect autumn cardi. There are two lace designs, a wide panel running down the back, with mini versions running down the sleeves and fronts, all set of with neat twisted, slip stitch ribbing. I love how much this looks like brioche stitch - but much easier to knit! There are nine, size inclusive chest sizes, plus a choice of three body lengths and two sleeve lengths so there's lots of customisation for the perfect fit! It's available at a 50% discount with coupon code GOLDEN50, valid until midnight (GMT) on 11th November.  Here are all the details: Suggested Yarn: Malabrigo Rios (Worsted) (100% superwash merino wool) 192 m/210 yds per 100g skein. Colourway: Almond Blossom. Meterage Body Length 1: (490, 530, 560) [620, 655, 1005] {1105, 1150, 1205} m Body Length 2: (710, 760, 810) [910, 955, 1215] {1335, 1400, 1460} m Body Length 3: (845, 905, 965) [1090, 1150, 1530] {1685, 1765, 1845} m Yardage Body Length 1: (535, 580, 615) [680, 715, 1100] {1210, 1260, 1320} yds Body Length 2: (775, 830, 885) [995, 1045, 1330] {1460, 1530, 1600} yds Body Length 3: (925, 990, 1055) [1190, 1260, 1675] {1845, 1930, 2020} yds Dimensions (Metric): Size: (1, 2, 3) [4, 5, 6] {7, 8, 9} To fit chest approximately: (70, 80, 90) [100, 110, 120] {130, 140, 150} cm with around 20 cm positive ease Across Back Underarm to Underarm: (46, 49, 53) [61, 64, 68] {76, 79, 83} cm Length Underarm to Hem, Body Length 1: (18, 17, 16) [15, 13, 27] {26, 25, 24} cm Length Underarm to Hem, Body Length 2: (33, 32, 31) [29, 28, 37] {36, 35, 34} cm Length Underarm to Hem, Body Length 3: (43, 42, 41) [39, 38, 52] {51, 49, 48} cm Upper Sleeve Circumference: (30, 33, 36) [36, 40, 44] {48, 51, 55} cm Sleeve Length from Underarm: 45 cm (with instructions for longer sleeves) Dimensions (Imperial): Size (1, 2, 3) [4, 5, 6] {7, 8, 9} To fit chest approximately (28, 32, 36) [40, 44, 48] {52, 56, 60}” with around 8” positive ease. Across Back Underarm to Underarm: (18, 20, 21) [24, 26, 27] {30, 32, 33}” Length Underarm to Hem, Body Length 1: (7, 6¾, 6¼) [5¾, 5¼, 10¾] {10¼, 9¾, 9½}” Length Underarm to Hem, Body Length 2: (13¼, 12¾, 12¼) [11¾, 11¼, 14¾] {14¼, 13¾, 13½}” Length Underarm to Hem, Body Length 3: (17¼, 16¾, 16¼) [15¾, 15¼, 20¾] {20¼, 19¾, 19½}” Upper Sleeve Circumference: (12, 13, 14½) [14½, 16, 17½ ] {19, 20½, 22}” Sleeve Length from Underarm: 18” (with instructions for longer sleeves) Needles: 5.5 mm/US 9 75 cm/30” circular needle or as required to achieve correct gauge, 4.5 mm/US 7 needles for cuffs only. Gauge: 16 sts and 24 rows = 10 cm/4” in 1x2 Twisted Ribbing after blocking. Extras: Crochet hook for weaving in loose ends, clip type stitch markers, stitch holder or waste yarn for holding stitches, you may find a row counter useful   My latest pattern, Brocken Spectre, is live! It’s a cropped cardigan with a gorgeous zigzag lace design at the shoulders. Knitted with a strand of silk blend 4ply and alpaca blend lace (Titus Fingering and Lowther Lace from Eden Cottage Yarns) gives a subtle shine, beautiful halo, and unsurpassed cosiness for the colder months. It’s totally seamless, knitted from the top down, has both charts and written instructions and comes in ten size inclusive sizes. A Brocken Spectre is an optical illusion that you sometimes see at the summit of a mountain on a foggy day – your own enormous shadow in the mist with a rainbow halo. I’ve only seen one once! The zigzag of the lace pattern over the stocking stitch reminded me of misty mountaintops. Brocken Spectre is half price with coupon code BROCKEN50, valid until midnight (GMT) on 7th October.  The knitty gritty...Construction: We cast on stitches at the shoulders and work the lace pattern down the upper back before increasing for a little armhole shaping. Stitches are picked up at each shoulder for the fronts where we continue with the lace pattern and work armhole shaping to match the back. We then join all stitches at the underarms and work down to the hem, after making a zig-zag transition from lace to stocking stitch. Increases are worked at the inner edge of both fronts for a little extra cosiness! We pick up stitches around both armholes and work sleeves down to the cuffs. Cuffs, hem and front edges are finished with neat twisted 1x1 ribbing. Suggested Yarns: Eden Cottage Yarn Titus Fingering (75% superwash extrafine merino wool, 25% mulberry silk) 400 m/436 yds per 100g skein, colourway: Penine Mist held together with Eden Cottage Yarns Lowther Lace (75% Baby Suri Alpaca, 25% Mulberry Silk) 300 m/328 yds per 50g skein, colourway: Ink. We recommend substituting any 4ply yarn (especially if it has a bit of a sheen) and a fluffy laceweight yarn such as a mohair/silk or alpaca/silk blend. Please check both gauges and adjust needle size as required. Please note meterage and yardage are for both yarns, e.g. size 1 requires 470 m of fingering weight and 470 m of laceweight yarn. Meterage: 470 (490, 525, 600) [680, 720, 760] {920, 975, 1015} m. Yardage: 515 (535, 575, 655) [745, 785, 830] {1000, 1060, 1105} yds. Dimensions (Metric): Size: 1 (2, 3, 4) [5, 6, 7] {8, 9, 10}. To fit Chest Circumference approx: 70 (75, 80, 90) [100, 110, 120] {130, 140, 150} cm. Garment Chest Circumference: 86 (89, 96, 109) [114, 121, 128] {143, 152, 158} cm Across Back Underarm to Underarm: 33 (36, 38, 42) [42, 46, 48] {53, 57, 61} cm Front width level with Underarm: 26 (26, 29, 34) [36, 38, 40] {45, 48, 49} cm Length Underarm to Hem: 30 (30, 30, 30) [33, 33, 33] {35, 35, 35} cm. Upper Sleeve Circumference: 26 (26, 30, 35) [39, 44, 48] {53, 56, 61} cm. Sleeve Length from Underarm: 40 cm. Dimensions (Imperial): Size: 1 (2, 3, 4) [5, 6, 7] {8, 9, 10}. To fit Chest Circumference approx: 28 (30, 32, 36) [40, 44, 48] {52, 56, 60}” Garment Chest Circumference: 34 (35½, 38, 43½) [45½, 48, 51] {57½, 60½, 63½}” Across Back Underarm to Underarm: 13 (14½, 15, 17) [17, 18, 19] {21, 23, 24}” Front Width Level with Underarm: 10½ (10½, 12, 14) [15½, 17½, 19] {21, 22½, 24½}” Length Underarm to Hem: 12 (12, 12, 12) [13, 13, 13] {14, 14, 14}” Upper Sleeve Circumference: 10½ (10½, 12, 14) [15½, 17½, 19] {21, 22½, 24½}” Sleeve Length from Underarm: 16”. Needles: 5.5 mm/US 9 75 cm/30” circular needle or as required to achieve correct gauge. Gauge: 16 sts and 24 rows = 10 cm/4” in stocking stitch after blocking, 13 sts and 18 rows = 10 cm/4” in lace pattern (Chart/Written Instructions A) after blocking. Extras: Crochet hook for weaving in loose ends, clip type stitch markers, stitch holder or waste yarn for holding stitches, you may find a row counter useful. Pattern Difficulty: Moderate Skills Needed: Work flat and in the round; knit and purl; knit into back loops, cast on and bind off; knitted and purled increases and decreases, yo’s, pick up and knit. Lace Pattern in FocusYou might recognise the lace pattern from my Aonach Cardigan, Suilven Hat and Cowl, Eyebright Shawl and Northumbria Shawl. It’s absolutely a favourite of mine. I do think it looks great in this yarn combination though, and it knits up quickly too!  Patterns clockwise from top left: Northumbria Shawl, Suilven Cowl, Aonach Cardigan, Eyebright Shawl and Suilven Hat.
I've been reading a bit more lately - I'm on Maternity Leave and little one prefers to nap cuddled up on my lap which gives me a lot of kindle time. Having said that, I'm a bit restricted in what I can read since postpartum hormones have turned me into a total wuss. I used to love horror novels, crime novels, nothing phased me. Now I can't cope with anything except the mildest peril, no crime novels any darker than Poirot for me! I was halfway thrifty a book of Shirley Jackson short stories and have had to totally abandon it. It's quite a difficult balancing act to find something that's meaningful but still light and breezy in tone. So I've been reading quite a bit of non fiction lately. I do love science writing and I've just finished “White Holes” by Carlo Rovelli and “Brief Answers to the Big Questions” by Stephen Hawking. Both are surprisingly readable and I would highly recommend. Now I'm onto “Goodbye, Things” by Fumio Sasaki, advocating a minimalist lifestyle, i.e. getting rid of all but your most essential possessions. The author lives in a tiny studio flat with a wooden box, a futon pad, a desk and very little else. Knitting, to my mind, is maybe a bit more of a “maximalist” hobby. I have a decent sized stash; needles, stitch markers, buttons galore; and then hundreds of finished garments in a rainbow of colours. Pretty typical for this pastime I think! When I think about it though, I have yarn bought years ago for projects I never quite find the time to start, let alone finish. Maybe I'd be better off selling three sweater quantities of yarn on ebay and buying one sweater worth of yarn that I really love? There's definite food for thought. If you consider minimalism as only keeping possessions which add the most value and meaning to your life, then there's definitely space for all the kit needed for a creative outlet as far as I'm concerned. There's quite a lot about being a new mum that makes minimalism appealing too:
Brights - Summer Handknit Capsule Wardrobe Patterns clockwise from top left: Bracklinn Crop Crosshill Cardigan Loch Katrine Shawl Corrieshalloch Top Corran Cami Pink - Summer Handknit Capsule Wardrobe Patterns clockwise from top left: Loveheart Crop Dairsie Cardigan Invermoriston Top Corran Cami Liathach Cowl Burgundy- Summer Handknit Capsule Wardrobe Patterns clockwise from top left: Pollokshaws Tee Arnisdale Cami Moseley Cardigan Eyebright Shawl (Ravelry Link) Northumbria Shawl Purple - Summer Handknit Capsule Wardrobe Patterns clockwise from top left: Monadh Top Arnisdale Cami Au Jardin Cardigan Lochnagar Top Moseley Cardigan Navy - Summer Handknit Capsule Wardrobe Patterns clockwise from top left: Kelvingrove Sweater (Ravelry link) Asphodel Shawl Epsilon Cardigan Castle Sands Shawl Sandaig Cami Teal - Summer Handknit Capsule Wardrobe Patterns clockwise from top left: Corrieshalloch Top Sandaig Cami Bracklinn Crop Loch Katrine Shawl Steall Shawl Green - Summer Handknit Capsule Wardrobe Patterns clockwise from top left:
Summer Lace Tank Pollokshaws Cardigan Sineabhar Shawl Mabie Forest Shawl Chance Inn Cardigan So I haven't posted anything in a while because… I had a baby!! She is doing really well - super chilled, and I feel like I've made a full recovery too. She's seven weeks old now and I'm just starting to feel like maybe I should be getting back to keeping the old knitting pattern business ticking over. It's a funny time, the newborn stage. You feel super busy and like you're not doing anything much at the same time. Baby's asleep cuddled up with me as I'm typing this (one handed, on my phone lol). I can't complain because she's sleeping very well at night, and I'm maybe getting an hour at most to myself through the day when she naps in her pram. Most of that time is eaten up with tackling laundry mountain… I am getting time to do a row or two of knitting here and there though. I started this months ago and put it on hold to do some baby knitting. I can't remember if I've posted any pictures of it before, my pregnancy was pretty rough towards the end so I wasn't getting much done then either. The yarn is gorgeous Tribe Yarns undyed Merino Silk Yak DK. It's so plush, supersoft, a gorgeous natural colour and very budget friendly. The cardi itself is top down with an attached shawl collar. The stitch pattern looks like brioche, but it's just twisted ribbing with increases and decreases. Keeping things simple! Fingers crossed that at a row a day I can get it done by autumn! Here's a few pictures of the baby knitting I got done too. I finished work at 38 weeks pregnant and then baby ended up arriving nine days late so I had a bit of time for knitting. The cardi is a Newborn Vertebrae (warning: link is to Ravelry) by Kelly van Niekerk and the blanket is a Chevron Baby Blanket by Espace Tricot. I absolutely did not have the mental bandwidth to design any baby knits myself! Somewhat unbelievably, I have also managed to arrange a test knit for my Brocken Spectre Cardigan pattern. The pattern was written pre baby but I'm super proud of myself that it only took me two months to do the post tech-edit redraft and put it up online. It's a cute, slightly cropped cardigan with lace detail at the shoulders. There are ten sizes and the lace had both written instructions and charts. You can volunteer to test in my Ravelry Group, or drop me an email/pm me on social media if you don't use Ravelry.
 Auldhouse Sweater is live! It's a super simple, slightly cropped sweater with a gorgeous lace pattern, and it's 50% off with coupon code AULDHOUSE50. Auldhouse is top down with short row shaping at the shoulders for the perfect fit. It's totally seamless with instructions for nine sizes - we always try to be size inclusive! There's advice on how to change the sleeve circumference and length too. The lace pattern looks impressive, but it's straightforward to knit. Cuffs, hem and the classic crew neck are finished with neat twisted ribbing I normally name patterns for places I’ve visited recently – in the past it was usually mountains I’d climbed in my last adventure. Now at eight months pregnant, my patterns are being named after places closer to home. Auldhouse is just down the road from my house and the location of a fantastic toddler group – how times change! Auldhouse Sweater is available at a 50% discount until midnight (GMT) on 22nd Feb using coupon code AULDHOUSE50 on Etsy, Ravelry, Payhip and the Littletheorem Knits Website. Coming soon... Spring Snowfall Test Knit
This weekend we'll be looking for test knitters for this beautiful cabled sweater. If you want to test knit, follow me on Instagram and watch out for the test call!  We're having a little mini sale to celebrate Valentine's Day! Our three most heart filled patterns are half price with coupon code VALENTINE24. Here's a wee description of each of the patterns..... Loveheart Crop Loveheart Crop is a super cute cropped tee with little "double nupps" that look just like hearts. It's a yoked top, but worked from the bottom up (so the hearts aren't upside down!) There are nine sizes to keep things inclusive, and it's the perfect Spring knit in 4ply yarn.  Heart shaped double nupps Fairisle Hearts Sweater Rather than lace, this time the hearts are stranded colourwork. Fairisle Hearts is a top down, seamless yoked sweater with a classic fairisle design. Just like Loveheart Crop, there are nine sizes to choose from. Alpinist Hot Water Bottle Cozy Another fairisle design, my Alpinist Hot Water Bottle Cozy is incredibly quick to knit in super chunky yarn. Always a great option for gift knitting, a true heartwarmer! You can find all these patterns on Ravelry as well, they're grouped into a Valentines Day Bundle. Use the same coupon code - VALENTINE24 for a 50% discount.  My new pattern, Crosshill Cardigan, is live! It's a top down, seamless waterfall cardigan designed for miniskeins (but still beautiful in a single colour). The main colour is Mulberino Yak 4ply in navy and the contrast colours are a set of Mulberino Shfades, both from Orchidean Luxury Yarns. The cardi comes in nine sizes, to fit chests approximately 28-60". It's open at the front so there's a bit of leeway between sizes.  The cardigan is worked from the top down using a modified raglan construction before splitting for the sleeves and body at the underarm. The body is worked down to the hem before picking up the sleeves stitches and working down to the cuff. We work a series of eight bands of lace from top to bottom, these could be worked in eight different colours, maybe one contrast colour, or the whole cardigan could be worked in a single colour. And what's the inspiration behind the name? Crosshill is the area in Glasgow where my parents stay, and a firm favourite of my daughter. This makes it one of the few places where I’m able to get any knitting done while she’s awake!  Crosshill Cardigan is available at a 50% discount with coupon code CROSSHILL50 until 15th February 2024.
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